Is this really a discussion about the name of a conference or is it more a discussion about inclusion and exclusion with the underlying question if this conference, which once was set up as a meeting for the organizations within the Wikimedia movement, should be open for non-organized Wikimedians as well. Which would probably be a different conference.
Alice. On Thu, Sep 11, 2014 at 10:27 PM, Nathan <nawr...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Sep 11, 2014 at 4:13 PM, Bence Damokos <bdamo...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > The name could be changed if the participants/organisers want to change > it. > > As I tried to point out, I don't see the name as the underlying problem > > people really have, and changing it will not solve the problem of > exclusion > > people see. > > > > We can make a conference that has a participants list that involves > people > > that *should *or at least the people that really *want* to be there, we > can > > also rename the conference for the people that *are *currently there and > > forget about those that want and should be there. I'd rather focus on the > > former. > > > > Regardless, I do feel an emotional connection to the name and I expect > many > > people that have participated or organised it might feel this and I > > appreciate that those who have not been there can see it as a minor thing > > that can be changed without any cost. It might not be perfect, but it > does > > have history and I do contend that the people that first started using it > > are Wikimedia, and they should not feel guilty about having come up with > > the idea first. Indeed, at this time, resources have been invested into > the > > name and confusion is ebbing around the "Wikimedia Conference" name due > to > > the years of history behind it. > > > > But in closing, I will once again point to my statements that names are > > symbolic and they can be changed. If the participants change the name > that > > sends a totally different vibe than if the change is imposed on the > > participants, even if the end result is the same new name. > > > > Best regards, > > Bence > > > If the as-yet undetermined organizers choose to name it Wikimedia > Conference, then I suppose no one will act to force them to stop. But we > are Wikimedia as much as the organizers and participants are, as much as > hundreds of thousands of volunteers are. In a "Wikimedia Conference" you > might expect it to be open to those Wikimedians. With a narrower theme of > governance, I doubt the prediction of it morphing into a second Wikimania > would come true. > > And while I accept your assertion that the name has history and meaning to > those who have participated there, I remain skeptical at the power the name > holds for you and others. It is, as you'll agree, a fairly generic name. > And less than a handful of events over as many years does not a venerable > tradition make. So I would hope that the organizers, whoever they turn out > to be, will make the simple gesture of adding a single word to the name of > the event. It is still Wikimedia; it's just aimed at affiliates, those who > organize and have attended the event up through now. > > Indeed, the conference of affiliates that you've attended in the past is > valuable and worthy. I'd suggest you allow others interested to attend if > resources permit, but I wouldn't ask you to fundamentally alter the nature > of the event. Merely make it clear whom you represent, so that others don't > feel you claim to represent them when you do not -- as Ilario seemed to > with his "principle of delegation" comment. > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe> > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
